Thermal and acid tolerant beta-xylosidases, genes encoding, related organisms, and methods

ABSTRACT

Isolated and/or purified polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides from  Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius  and variations thereof are provided. Further provided are methods of at least partially degrading xylotriose and/or xylobiose using isolated and/or purified polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides from  Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius  and variations thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/023,639, filed Jan. 25, 2008, for “THERMAL AND ACID TOLERANT BETA-XYLOSIDASES, GENES ENCODING, RELATED ORGANISMS, AND METHODS,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.

GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

This invention was made with government support under Contract No. DE-AC07-99ID13727 and Contract No. DE-AC07-05ID14517 awarded by the United States Department of Energy. The government has certain rights in the invention.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to biotechnology. More specifically, the present invention relates to isolated and/or purified polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius and methods for their use.

BACKGROUND

Dilute acid hydrolysis to remove hemicellulose from lignocellulosic materials is one of the most developed pretreatment techniques for lignocellulose and is currently favored (Hamelinck et al., 2005) because it results in fairly high yields of xylose (75% to 90%). Conditions that are typically used range from 0.5% to 1.5% sulfuric acid and temperatures above 160° C. The high temperatures used result in significant levels of thermal decomposition products that inhibit subsequent microbial fermentations (Lavarack et al., 2002). High temperature hydrolysis requires pressurized systems, steam generation, and corrosion resistant materials in reactor construction due to the more corrosive nature of acid at elevated temperatures.

Low temperature acid hydrolyses are of interest because they have the potential to overcome several of the above shortcomings (Tsao et al., 1987). It has been demonstrated that 90% of hemicellulose can be solubilized as oligomers in a few hours of acid treatment in the temperature range of 80° C. to 100° C. It has also been demonstrated that the sugars produced in low temperature acid hydrolysis are stable under those same conditions for at least 24 hours with no detectable degradation to furfural decomposition products. Finally, sulfuric acid typically used in pretreatments is not as corrosive at lower temperatures. The use of lower temperature acid pretreatments requires much longer reaction times to achieve acceptable levels of hydrolysis. Although 90% hemicellulose solubilization has been shown (Tsao, 1987), the bulk of the sugars are in the form of oligomers and are not in the monomeric form. The organisms currently favored in subsequent fermentation steps cannot utilize sugar oligomers (Garrote et al., 2001) and the oligomer-containing hydrolysates require further processing to monomers, usually as a second lower severity acid hydrolysis step (Garrote et al., 2001).

Other acidic pretreatment methods include autohydrolysis and hot water washing. In autohydrolysis, biomass is treated with steam at high temperatures (˜200° C.), which cleaves acetyl side chains associated with hemicellulose to produce acetic acid that functions as the acid catalyst in an acid hydrolysis. Because acetic acid is a much weaker acid than sulfuric acid, below 240° C. the hemicellulose is not completely hydrolyzed to sugar monomers and has high levels of oligomers (Garrote et al., 2001). In hot water washing, biomass is contacted with water (under pressure) at elevated temperatures 160° C. to 230° C. This process can effectively hydrolyze greater than 90% of the hemicellulose present and the solubilized hemicellulose is typically over 95% in the form of oligomers (Liu and Wyman, 2003). Following these pretreatments, it is often necessary to effect further depolymerization of the oligomeric hemicelluloses to monomer sugars, which can be accomplished using a variety of catalysts including, liquids, solids, vaporous acids and alkalis, and enzymes.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention relate to purified and/or isolated nucleotide sequences of the genome of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, or a homologue or fragment thereof. In one embodiment of the invention, the nucleotide sequence is SEQ ID NO:1 or a homologue or fragment thereof. In another embodiment of the invention, the homologue has at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1.

Embodiments of the invention may further relate to an isolated and/or purified nucleic acid sequence comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2.

Embodiments of the invention also relate to isolated and/or purified polypeptides encoded by a nucleotide sequence of the genome of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, or a homologue or fragment thereof. In one embodiment, the nucleotide sequence has at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1. In another embodiment of the invention, the nucleotide sequence is SEQ ID NO:1 or a homologue or fragment thereof. In still another embodiment, the polypeptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. In yet another embodiment, the polypeptide has at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2.

In embodiments of the invention, the polypeptides may be acidophilic and/or thermophilic. In further embodiments, the polypeptides may be glycosylated, pegylated, or otherwise post-translationally modified.

Embodiments of the invention include methods of at least partially degrading or cleaving xylotriose and/or xylobiose to release xylose. Such methods may comprise placing a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 in fluid contacting xylotriose and/or xylobiose.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent to the skilled artisan in view of the teachings contained herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A through 1D depict a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO:2 (RAAC00307), a beta-xylosidase, and gi:76795911, gi:15642851, gi:148269983, gi:15899739, and gi:116621797 (SEQ ID NOs:3-7 respectively) which are all beta-xylosidases. Amino acids common to three or more of the sequences aligned are indicated in bold.

FIG. 2 depicts a silver stained SDS-PAGE gel of crude extracellular extract from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius grown to stationary phase on a mineral salt medium with 0.5 g/L wheat arabinoxylan as the carbon source.

FIG. 3 is a graph depicting an elution of proteins from a cation exchange chromatography column used to concentrate and nominally purify the proteins. The proteins were produced in the extracellular fluid of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius grown on wheat arabionoxylan at 60° C. and at a pH of 3.5. Total protein is depicted as triangles (right-hand y-axis); endoxylanase activity is depicted by squares (left-hand y-axis); and endoglucanase activity is depicted by diamonds (left-hand y-axis).

FIG. 4 is a graph depicting the xylanase activity at 50° C. and at a pH of 4.7 of a commercial endoxylanase from Thermomyces lanuginosus challenged with 4.19 g/L insoluble oat spelt xylan and monitored via HPLC. Levels of xylohexaose are depicted as diamonds; levels of xylopentaose are depicted as Xs; levels of xylotetraose are depicted as open circles; levels of xylotriose are depicted as triangles; levels of xylobiose are depicted as squares; and levels of xylose are depicted as closed circles. The lines represent a nonlinear regression of the data points presented.

FIG. 5 is a graph depicting the combined activities of endoxylanase and beta-xylosidase at 60° C. and at a pH of 2.0 in crude extracellular concentrations from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius challenged with 3.95 g/L insoluble oat spelt xylan and monitored via HPLC. Levels of xylohexaose are depicted as closed circles; levels of xylopentaose are depicted as Xs; levels of xylotetraose are depicted as open circles; levels of xylotriose are depicted as triangles; levels are xylobiose are depicted as squares; and levels of xylose are depicted as diamonds. The lines represent a nonlinear regression of the data points presented.

FIG. 6 is a graph depicting β-xylosidase activity distributed throughout fractions 20 through 50 with the highest activity occurring around fraction 25 and then tapering off from fraction 30 through fraction 50. Activity assays were conducted in duplicate and the error bars indicate the standard deviation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is desirable to utilize the sugars contained in the cellulose and hemicellulose of lignocellulosic residues for production of fuels and value added chemicals in a Biorefinery concept. Lignocellulosic residues including corn stover consist of a heterogeneous three-dimensional matrix comprised primarily of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Because of the heterogenous nature of lignocellulose, the cellulose and hemicellulose are not directly accessible. Many fuels and chemicals can be made from these lignocellulosic materials. To utilize lignocellulosic biomass for production of fuels and chemicals via fermentative processes, it is necessary to convert the plant polysaccharides to sugar monomers which are then fermented to products using a variety of microorganisms. Direct hydrolysis of lignocellulose by mineral acids to monomers is possible at high temperature and pressure, however, with unavoidable yield losses due to thermal decomposition of the sugars. One strategy to reduce these yield losses is to use cellulases and potentially other enzymes to depolymerize the polysaccharides at moderate temperatures.

Acid pretreatments have been developed to hydrolyze and remove hemicellulose and thereby increase the susceptibility of the cellulose in the matrix to cellulolytic attack. However, these acid pretreatments have high capital and operating costs due to high temperatures and pressures, the need for expensive alloys that can withstand the high temperature corrosive environment, and they produce significant amounts of thermal decomposition products of the sugars depending on pretreatment severity. These thermal decomposition products represent a loss of potential sugars that could be utilized for subsequent fermentations and are also toxic to fermenting organisms. Because of these issues, a desired direction for fermentative biorefinery development is to integrate various elements of pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation processes. There are various ways to integrate the enzymatic polysaccharide hydrolysis and fermentation processes. For commercially available enzymes to be used for this purpose, the pretreatment slurry must be neutralized by overliming or another method and cooled to 40° to 50° C., adding significant cost to the process. In contrast, acid stable thermotolerant hemicellulases can be used together with or following reduced severity acid pretreatments to lower the energy and capital costs. This would allow maximum yields of hemicellulose-derived sugars and minimize the formation of toxic byproducts. This strategy also necessarily results in the accumulation of hemicellulose oligomers in the pretreatment liquor, requiring further hydrolysis of the oligomers to monomers before most microbes can utilize them. Addition of acid stable thermotolerant hydrolytic enzymes such as cellulases, xylanases, and xylosidases to the biomass slurry during the pretreatment allows the use of lower temperatures and pressures, as well as cheaper materials of construction, reducing both the capital and energy, and perhaps greatly reducing or eliminating the need for high pressure steam for the pretreatment.

Embodiments of the invention relate in part to gene sequences and protein sequences encoded by genes of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius. Genes included are those encode proteins capable of breaking down xylotriose and xylobiose into xylose (beta-xylosidases).

The present invention relates to isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequences of the genome of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius wherein the nucleotide sequence comprises SEQ ID NO:1 or one of its fragments.

The present invention likewise relates to isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequences, characterized in that they are selected from: a) a nucleotide sequence of a specific fragment of the sequence SEQ ID NO:1 or one of its fragments; b) a nucleotide sequence homologous to a nucleotide sequence such as defined in a); c) a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence such as defined in a) or b), and a nucleotide sequence of their corresponding RNA; d) a nucleotide sequence capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions with a sequence such as defined in a), b) or c); e) a nucleotide sequence comprising a sequence such as defined in a), b), c) or d); and f) a nucleotide sequence modified by a nucleotide sequence such as defined in a), b), c), d), or e).

Nucleotide, polynucleotide, or nucleic acid sequence will be understood according to the present invention as meaning both a double-stranded or single-stranded DNA in the monomeric and dimeric (so-called in tandem) forms and the transcription products of the DNAs.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to sequences that it has been possible to isolate, purify, or partially purify, starting from separation methods such as, for example, ion-exchange chromatography, by exclusion based on molecular size, or by affinity, or alternatively fractionation techniques based on solubility in different solvents, or starting from methods of genetic engineering such as amplification, cloning, and subcloning, it being possible for the sequences of the invention to be carried by vectors.

An isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequence fragment according to the invention will be understood as designating any nucleotide fragment of the genome of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, and may include, by way of non-limiting examples, a length of at least 8, 12, 20 25, 50, 75, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 1000, or more, consecutive nucleotides of the sequence from which it originates.

A specific fragment of an isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequence according to the invention will be understood as designating any nucleotide fragment of the genome of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, having, after alignment and comparison with the corresponding fragments of genomic sequences of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, at least one nucleotide or base of different nature.

A homologous isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequence in the sense of the present invention is understood as meaning having an isolated and/or purified a nucleotide sequence having at least a percentage identity with the bases of a nucleotide sequence according to the invention of at least about 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, 99.6%, or 99.7%, this percentage being purely statistical and it being possible to distribute the differences between the two nucleotide sequences at random and over the whole of their length.

A specific homologous nucleotide sequence in the sense of the present invention is understood as meaning a homologous nucleotide sequence having at least one nucleotide sequence of a specific fragment, such as defined above. The “specific” homologous sequences can comprise, for example, the sequences corresponding to the genomic sequence or to the sequences of its fragments representative of variants of the genome of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius. These specific homologous sequences can thus correspond to variations linked to mutations within strains of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, and especially correspond to truncations, substitutions, deletions and/or additions of at least one nucleotide. The homologous sequences can likewise correspond to variations linked to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

The term “degree or percentage of sequence homology” refers to “degree or percentage of sequence identity between two sequences after optimal alignment” as defined in the present application.

Two amino acids or nucleotidic sequences are said to be “identical” if the sequence of amino acids or nucleotidic residues, in the two sequences is the same when aligned for maximum correspondence as described below. Sequence comparisons between two (or more) peptides or polynucleotides are typically performed by comparing sequences of two optimally aligned sequences over a segment or “comparison window” to identify and compare local regions of sequence similarity. Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison may be conducted by the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman, Ad. App. Math 2: 482 (1981), by the homology alignment algorithm of Neddleman and Wunsch, J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443 (1970), by the search for similarity method of Pearson and Lipman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.) 85: 2444 (1988), by computerized implementation of these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group (GCG), 575 Science Dr., Madison, Wis.), or by visual inspection.

“Percentage of sequence identity” (or degree or identity) is determined by comparing two optimally aligned sequences over a comparison window, where the portion of the peptide or polynucleotide sequence in the comparison window may comprise additions or deletions (i.e., gaps) as compared to the reference sequence (which does not comprise additions or deletions) for optimal alignment of the two sequences. The percentage is calculated by determining the number of positions at which the identical amino-acid residue or nucleic acid base occurs in both sequences to yield the number of matched positions, dividing the number of matched positions by the total number of positions in the window of comparison and multiplying the result by 100 to yield the percentage of sequence identity.

The definition of sequence identity given above is the definition that would be used by one of skill in the art. The definition by itself does not need the help of any algorithm, the algorithms being helpful only to achieve the optimal alignments of sequences, rather than the calculation of sequence identity.

From the definition given above, it follows that there is a well defined and only one value for the sequence identity between two compared sequences which value corresponds to the value obtained for the best or optimal alignment.

In the BLAST N or BLAST P “BLAST 2 sequence,” software that is available at the web site ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, and habitually used by the inventors and in general by a person skilled in the art for comparing and determining the identity between two sequences, gap cost, which depends on the sequence length to be compared is directly selected by the software (i.e., 11.2 for substitution matrix BLOSUM-62 for length>85).

Complementary nucleotide sequence of a sequence of the invention is understood as meaning any DNA whose nucleotides are complementary to those of the sequence of the invention, and whose orientation is reversed (antiparallel sequence). In embodiments of the invention a nucleotide sequence of the invention and/or a complementary nucleotide sequence of a sequence of the invention may be used to alter the expression of a gene. Examples of techniques which may be used to alter the expression of a gene include, but are not limited to, RNAi, siRNA, and antisense technologies.

Hybridization under conditions of stringency with a nucleotide sequence according to the invention is understood as meaning a hybridization under conditions of temperature and ionic strength chosen in such a way that they allow the maintenance of the hybridization between two fragments of complementary DNA.

By way of illustration, conditions of great stringency of the hybridization step with the aim of defining the nucleotide fragments described above are advantageously the following, described hereinbelow.

The hybridization is carried out at a preferential temperature of 65° C. in the presence of SSC buffer, 1×SSC corresponding to 0.15 M NaCl and 0.05 M Na citrate. The washing steps, for example, can be the following: 2×SSC, at ambient temperature followed by two washes with 2×SSC, 0.5% SDS at 65° C.; 2×0.5×SSC, 0.5% SDS; at 65° C. for ten minutes each.

The conditions of intermediate stringency, using, for example, a temperature of 42° C. in the presence of a 2×SSC buffer, or of less stringency, for example a temperature of 37° C. in the presence of a 2×SSC buffer, respectively require a globally less significant complementarity for the hybridization between the two sequences.

The stringent hybridization conditions described above for a polynucleotide with a size of approximately 350 bases will be adapted by a person skilled in the art for oligonucleotides of greater or smaller size, according to the teachings of Sambrook et al., 1989.

Among the isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequences according to the invention, are those that can be used as a primer or probe in methods allowing the homologous sequences according to the invention to be obtained, these methods, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nucleic acid cloning, and sequencing, being well known to a person skilled in the art.

Among the isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequences according to the invention, those are again preferred that can be used as a primer or probe in methods allowing the presence of a sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:1, one of its fragments, or one of its variants, such as defined below to be diagnosed.

The nucleotide sequence fragments according to the invention can be obtained, for example, by specific amplification, such as PCR, or after digestion with appropriate restriction enzymes of nucleotide sequences according to the invention, these methods in particular being described in the work of Sambrook et al., 1989. Such representative fragments can likewise be obtained by chemical synthesis according to methods well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art.

Modified nucleotide sequence will be understood as meaning any nucleotide sequence obtained by mutagenesis according to techniques well known to a person skilled in the art, and containing modifications with respect to the normal sequences according to the invention, for example, mutations in the regulatory and/or promoter sequences of polypeptide expression, especially leading to a modification of the rate of expression of the polypeptide or to a modulation of the replicative cycle.

Modified nucleotide sequence will likewise be understood as meaning any nucleotide sequence coding for a modified polypeptide such as defined below.

The present invention relates to isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequences of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, characterized in that they are selected from the sequence SEQ ID NO:1 or one of its fragments.

Embodiments of the invention likewise relate to isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequences characterized in that they comprise a nucleotide sequence selected from: a) a nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO:1 or one of its fragments; b) a nucleotide sequence of a specific fragment of a sequence such as defined in a); c) a homologous nucleotide sequence having at least 80% identity with a sequence such as defined in a) or b); d) a complementary nucleotide sequence or sequence of RNA corresponding to a sequence such as defined in a), b) or c); and e) a nucleotide sequence modified by a sequence such as defined in a), b), c) or d).

Among the isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequences according to the invention are the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOs:8-12 or fragments thereof and any other isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequences which have a homology of at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, 99.6%, or 99.7% identity with the sequence SEQ ID NO:1 or fragments thereof. The homologous sequences can comprise, for example, the sequences corresponding to the genomic sequences of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius. In the same manner, these specific homologous sequences can correspond to variations linked to mutations within strains of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius and especially correspond to truncations, substitutions, deletions and/or additions of at least one nucleotide.

Embodiments of the invention comprise the isolated and/or purified polypeptides encoded by a nucleotide sequence according to the invention, or fragments thereof, whose sequence is represented by a fragment. Amino acid sequences corresponding to the isolated and/or purified polypeptides which can be encoded according to one of the three possible reading frames of the sequence SEQ ID NO:1.

Embodiments of the invention likewise relate to the isolated and/or purified polypeptides, characterized in that they comprise a polypeptide selected from the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO:2 or one of its fragments.

Further embodiments of the invention relate to the isolated and/or purified polypeptides, characterized in that they comprise a polypeptide selected from the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO:2 or one of its fragments, wherein the polypeptides have beta-xylosidase activity.

Among the isolated and/or purified polypeptides, according to embodiments of the invention, are the isolated and/or purified polypeptides comprising any one or more of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NOs:13-17, or fragments thereof or any other isolated and/or purified polypeptides which have a homology of at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, 99.6%, or 99.7% identity with the sequence SEQ ID NO:2 or fragments thereof.

Embodiments of the invention also relate to the polypeptides, characterized in that they comprise a polypeptide selected from: a) a specific fragment of at least five amino acids of a polypeptide of an amino acid sequence according to the invention; b) a polypeptide homologous to a polypeptide such as defined in a); c) a specific biologically active fragment of a polypeptide such as defined in a) or b); and d) a polypeptide modified by a polypeptide such as defined in a), b) or c).

In the present description, the terms polypeptide, peptide, and protein are interchangeable.

In embodiments of the invention, the isolated and/or purified polypeptides according to the invention may be glycosylated, pegylated, or otherwise post-translationally modified. In further embodiments, glycosylation may occur in vivo or in vitro and may be performed enzymatically or using chemical glycosylation techniques. In additional embodiments, any glycosylation, pegylation and/or other post-translational modifications may be N-linked or O-linked.

In embodiments of the invention the any one of the isolated and/or purified polypeptides according to the invention may be enzymatically active at temperatures at or above about 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, and/or 95 degrees Celsius and/or may be enzymatically active at a pH at, below, and/or above 7, 6, 5.5, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and/or 0. In further embodiments of the invention, glycosylation, pegylation, or other post-translational modification may be required for the isolated and/or purified polypeptides according to the invention to be soluble and/or enzymatically active at a pH at or below 7, 6, 5.5, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and/or 0 or at a temperature at or above about 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, and/or 95 degrees Celsius. In further embodiments, the enzymatic activity may be beta-xylosidase activity.

Embodiments of the invention relate to polypeptides which are isolated or obtained by purification from natural sources, or else obtained by genetic recombination, or alternatively by chemical synthesis and that they may thus contain amino acids that do not normally occur in living systems, as will be described below.

A “polypeptide fragment” according to the embodiments of the invention is understood as designating a polypeptide containing at least 5 consecutive amino acids, preferably 10 consecutive amino acids or 15 consecutive amino acids. Non-limiting examples of polypeptide fragments according to the invention include polypeptides containing 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 75, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 1000, or more, consecutive residues. In further embodiments, the polypeptide fragment may comprise beta-xylosidase activity.

In the present invention, a specific polypeptide fragment is understood as designating the consecutive polypeptide fragment encoded by a specific fragment nucleotide sequence according to the invention.

“Homologous polypeptide” will be understood as designating the polypeptides having, with respect to the natural polypeptide, certain modifications such as, in particular, a deletion, addition, or substitution of at least one amino acid, a truncation, a prolongation, a chimeric fusion, and/or a mutation. Among the homologous polypeptides, those are preferred whose amino acid sequence has at least 90%, homology with the sequences of amino acids of polypeptides according to the invention. In further embodiments, a homologous polypeptide may comprise beta-xylosidase activity.

“Specific homologous polypeptide” will be understood as designating the homologous polypeptides such as defined above and having a specific fragment of polypeptide according to the invention.

In the case of a substitution, one or more consecutive or nonconsecutive amino acids are replaced by “equivalent” amino acids. The expression “equivalent” amino acid is directed here at designating any amino acid capable of being substituted by one of the amino acids of the base structure without, however, essentially modifying the biological activities of the corresponding peptides and such that they will be defined by the following. Examples of such substitutions in the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2 may include those isolated and/or purified polypeptides of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NOs:13-17.

These equivalent amino acids can be determined either by depending on their structural homology with the amino acids which they substitute, or on results of comparative tests of biological activity between the different polypeptides, which are capable of being carried out.

By way of nonlimiting example, the possibilities of substitutions capable of being carried out without resulting in an extensive modification of the biological activity of the corresponding modified polypeptides will be mentioned, the replacement, for example, of leucine by valine or isoleucine, of aspartic acid by glutamic acid, of glutamine by asparagine, of arginine by lysine etc., the reverse substitutions naturally being envisageable under the same conditions.

In a further embodiment, substitutions are limited to substitutions in amino acids not conserved among other proteins which have similar identified enzymatic activity. For example, FIG. 1 herein provides a sequence alignment between a certain polypeptide of the invention (SEQ ID NO:2) and other polypeptides identified as having similar enzymatic activity, with amino acids common to three or more of the sequences aligned as indicated in bold. Thus, according to one embodiment of the invention, substitutions or mutations may be made at positions that are not indicated as in bold in the figures. Examples of such polypeptides may include, but are not limited to, those found in amino acid sequence SEQ ID NOs:13-17. In a further embodiment, nucleic acid sequences may be mutated or substituted such that the amino acid they encode is unchanged (degenerate substitutions and/mutations) and/or mutated or substituted such that any resulting amino acid substitutions or mutations are made at positions that are not indicated as in bold in the figures. Examples of such nucleic acid sequences may include, but are not limited to, those found in the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOs:8-12 or fragments thereof.

The specific homologous polypeptides likewise correspond to polypeptides encoded by the specific homologous nucleotide sequences such as defined above and thus comprise in the present definition the polypeptides, which are mutated or correspond to variants that can exist in Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, and which especially correspond to truncations, substitutions, deletions, and/or additions of at least one amino acid residue.

“Specific biologically active fragment of a polypeptide” according to an embodiment of the invention will be understood in particular as designating a specific polypeptide fragment, such as defined above, having at least one of the characteristics of polypeptides according to the invention. In certain embodiments the peptide is capable of acting as beta-xylosidase.

The polypeptide fragments according to embodiments of the invention can correspond to isolated or purified fragments naturally present in a Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius or correspond to fragments which can be obtained by cleavage of the polypeptide by a proteolytic enzyme, such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, or collagenase, or by a chemical reagent, such as cyanogen bromide (CNBr). Such polypeptide fragments can likewise easily be prepared by chemical synthesis and/or from hosts transformed by an expression vector according to the invention containing a nucleic acid allowing the expression of the polypeptide fragments, placed under the control of appropriate regulation and/or expression elements.

“Modified polypeptide” of a polypeptide according to an embodiment of the invention is understood as designating a polypeptide obtained by genetic recombination or by chemical synthesis as will be described below, having at least one modification with respect to the normal sequence. These modifications may or may not be able to bear on amino acids at the origin of a specificity, and/or of activity, or at the origin of the structural conformation, localization, and of the capacity of membrane insertion of the polypeptide according to the invention. It will thus be possible to create polypeptides of equivalent, increased, or decreased activity, and of equivalent, narrower, or wider specificity. Examples of modified polypeptides include, but are not limited to, those in which up to 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, or 500 amino acids can be modified, truncated at the N- or C-terminal end, or even deleted or added.

The methods allowing the modulations on eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells to be demonstrated are well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. It is likewise well understood that it will be possible to use the nucleotide sequences coding for the modified polypeptides for the modulations, for example through vectors according to the invention and described below.

The preceding modified polypeptides can be obtained by using combinatorial chemistry, in which it is possible to systematically vary parts of the polypeptide before testing them on models, cell cultures or microorganisms, for example, to select the compounds that are most active or have the properties sought.

Chemical synthesis likewise has the advantage of being able to use unnatural amino acids, or nonpeptide bonds.

Thus, in order to improve the duration of life of the polypeptides according to the invention, it may be of interest to use unnatural amino acids, for example in D form, or else amino acid analogs, especially sulfur-containing forms, for example.

Finally, it will be possible to integrate the structure of the polypeptides according to the invention, its specific or modified homologous forms, into chemical structures of polypeptide type or others. Thus, it may be of interest to provide at the N- and C-terminal ends compounds not recognized by proteases.

The nucleotide sequences coding for a polypeptide according to the invention are likewise part of the invention.

The invention likewise relates to nucleotide sequences utilizable as a primer or probe, characterized in that the sequences are selected from the nucleotide sequences according to the invention.

It is well understood that the present invention, in various embodiments, likewise relates to specific polypeptides of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, encoded by nucleotide sequences, capable of being obtained by purification from natural polypeptides, by genetic recombination or by chemical synthesis by procedures well known to a person skilled in the art and such as described in particular below. In the same manner, the labeled or unlabeled mono- or polyclonal antibodies directed against the specific polypeptides encoded by the nucleotide sequences are also encompassed by the invention.

Embodiments of the invention additionally relate to the use of a nucleotide sequence according to the invention as a primer or probe for the detection and/or the amplification of nucleic acid sequences.

The nucleotide sequences according to embodiments of the invention can thus be used to amplify nucleotide sequences, especially by the PCR technique (polymerase chain reaction) (Erlich, 1989; Innis et al., 1990; Rolfs et al., 1991; and White et al., 1997).

These oligodeoxyribonucleotide or oligoribonucleotide primers advantageously have a length of at least 8 nucleotides, preferably of at least 12 nucleotides, and even more preferentially at least 20 nucleotides.

Other amplification techniques of the target nucleic acid can be advantageously employed as alternatives to PCR.

The nucleotide sequences of the invention, in particular the primers according to the invention, can likewise be employed in other procedures of amplification of a target nucleic acid, such as: the TAS technique (Transcription-based Amplification System), described by Kwoh et al. in 1989; the 3SR technique (Self-Sustained Sequence Replication), described by Guatelli et al. in 1990; the NASBA technique (Nucleic Acid Sequence Based Amplification), described by Kievitis et al. in 1991; the SDA technique (Strand Displacement Amplification) (Walker et al., 1992); and the TMA technique (Transcription Mediated Amplification).

The polynucleotides of the invention can also be employed in techniques of amplification or of modification of the nucleic acid serving as a probe, such as: the LCR technique (Ligase Chain Reaction), described by Landegren et al. in 1988 and improved by Barany et al. in 1991, which employs a thermostable ligase; the RCR technique (Repair Chain Reaction), described by Segev in 1992; the CPR technique (Cycling Probe Reaction), described by Duck et al. in 1990; the amplification technique with Q-beta replicase, described by Miele et al. in 1983 and especially improved by Chu et al. in 1986, Lizardi et al. in 1988, then by Burg et al., as well as by Stone et al., in 1996.

In the case where the target polynucleotide to be detected is possibly an RNA, for example an mRNA, it will be possible to use, prior to the employment of an amplification reaction with the aid of at least one primer according to the invention or to the employment of a detection procedure with the aid of at least one probe of the invention, an enzyme of reverse transcriptase type in order to obtain a cDNA from the RNA contained in the biological sample. The cDNA obtained will thus serve as a target for the primer(s) or the probe(s) employed in the amplification or detection procedure according to the invention.

The detection probe will be chosen in such a manner that it hybridizes with the target sequence or the amplicon generated from the target sequence. By way of sequence, such a probe will advantageously have a sequence of at least 12 nucleotides, in particular of at least 20 nucleotides, and preferably of at least 100 nucleotides.

Embodiments of the invention also comprise the nucleotide sequences utilizable as a probe or primer according to the invention, characterized in that they are labeled with a radioactive compound or with a nonradioactive compound.

The unlabeled nucleotide sequences can be used directly as probes or primers, although the sequences are generally labeled with a radioactive element (32P, 35S, 3H, 125I) or with a nonradioactive molecule (biotin, acetylaminofluorene, digoxigenin, 5-bromodeoxyuridine, fluorescein) to obtain probes which are utilizable for numerous applications.

Examples of nonradioactive labeling of nucleotide sequences are described, for example, in French Patent No. 78.10975 or by Urdea et al. or by Sanchez-Pescador et al. in 1988.

In the latter case, it will also be possible to use one of the labeling methods described in patents FR-2 422 956 and FR-2 518 755.

The hybridization technique can be carried out in various manners (Matthews et al., 1988). The most general method consists in immobilizing the nucleic acid extract of cells on a support (such as nitrocellulose, nylon, polystyrene) and in incubating, under well-defined conditions, the immobilized target nucleic acid with the probe. After hybridization, the excess of probe is eliminated and the hybrid molecules formed are detected by the appropriate method (measurement of the radioactivity, of the fluorescence or of the enzymatic activity linked to the probe).

The invention, in various embodiments, likewise comprises the nucleotide sequences according to the invention, characterized in that they are immobilized on a support, covalently or noncovalently.

According to another advantageous mode of employing nucleotide sequences according to the invention, the latter can be used immobilized on a support and can thus serve to capture, by specific hybridization, the target nucleic acid obtained from the biological sample to be tested. If necessary, the solid support is separated from the sample and the hybridization complex formed between a capture probe and the target nucleic acid is then detected with the aid of a second probe, a so-called “detection probe”, labeled with an easily detectable element.

Another aspect of the present invention is a vector for the cloning and/or expression of a sequence, characterized in that it contains a nucleotide sequence according to the invention.

The vectors according to the invention, characterized in that they contain the elements allowing the expression and/or the secretion of the nucleotide sequences in a determined host cell, are likewise part of the invention.

The vector may then contain a promoter, signals of initiation and termination of translation, as well as appropriate regions of regulation of transcription. It may be able to be maintained stably in the host cell and can optionally have particular signals specifying the secretion of the translated protein. These different elements may be chosen as a function of the host cell used. To this end, the nucleotide sequences according to the invention may be inserted into autonomous replication vectors within the chosen host, or integrated vectors of the chosen host.

Such vectors will be prepared according to the methods currently used by a person skilled in the art, and it will be possible to introduce the clones resulting therefrom into an appropriate host by standard methods, such as, for example, transfection, lipofection, electroporation, and thermal shock.

As used herein “transformed” and “transforming” refer to a cell comprising, or the process of providing to a cell, a vector. Transformed cells may or may not be immortalized. Immortalization of a transformed cell may or may not be due to the presence of particular nucleic acid sequences in a vector. In embodiments of the invention, a vector or a portion of a vector may be stably integrated into the genome of a cell. In embodiments, integration of a vector or a portion of a vector does not alter the status of the cell as having been “transformed” according to the present invention.

The vectors according to the invention are, for example, vectors of plasmid or viral origin. One example of a vector for the expression of polypeptides of the invention is baculovirus.

These vectors are useful for transforming host cells in order to clone or to express the nucleotide sequences of the invention.

The invention likewise comprises the host cells transformed by a vector according to the invention.

These cells can be obtained by the introduction into host cells of a nucleotide sequence inserted into a vector such as defined above, then the culturing of the cells under conditions allowing the replication and/or expression of the transfected nucleotide sequence.

The host cell can be selected from prokaryotic or eukaryotic systems, such as, for example, bacterial cells (Olins and Lee, 1993), but likewise yeast cells (Buckholz, 1993), plant cells (such as, but not limited to, Arabidopsis sp.), as well as animal cells, in particular the cultures of mammalian cells (Edwards and Aruffo, 1993), for example, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, but likewise the cells of insects in which it is possible to use procedures employing baculoviruses, for example, Sf9 insect cells (Luckow, 1993).

Embodiments of the invention likewise relate to organisms comprising one of the transformed cells according to the invention.

The obtainment of transgenic organisms according to the invention overexpressing one or more of the genes of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius or part of the genes may be carried out in, for example, rats, mice, or rabbits according to methods well known to a person skilled in the art, such as by viral or nonviral transfections. It will be possible to obtain the transgenic organisms overexpressing one or more of the genes by transfection of multiple copies of the genes under the control of a strong promoter of ubiquitous nature, or selective for one type of tissue. It will likewise be possible to obtain the transgenic organisms by homologous recombination in embryonic cell strains, transfer of these cell strains to embryos, selection of the affected chimeras at the level of the reproductive lines, and growth of the chimeras.

The transformed cells as well as the transgenic organisms according to the invention are utilizable in procedures for preparation of recombinant polypeptides.

It is today possible to produce recombinant polypeptides in relatively large quantity by genetic engineering using the cells transformed by expression vectors according to the invention or using transgenic organisms according to the invention.

The procedures for preparation of a polypeptide of the invention in recombinant form, characterized in that they employ a vector and/or a cell transformed by a vector according to the invention and/or a transgenic organism comprising one of the transformed cells according to the invention, are themselves comprised in the present invention.

Among the procedures for preparation of a polypeptide of the invention in recombinant form, the preparation procedures employing a vector, and/or a cell transformed by the vector and/or a transgenic organism comprising one of the transformed cells, containing a nucleotide sequence according to the invention coding for a polypeptide of the invention.

A variant according to the invention may consist of producing a recombinant polypeptide fused to a “carrier” protein (chimeric protein). The advantage of this system is that it may allow stabilization of and/or a decrease in the proteolysis of the recombinant product, an increase in the solubility in the course of renaturation in vitro and/or a simplification of the purification when the fusion partner has an affinity for a specific ligand.

More particularly, the invention relates to a procedure for preparation of a polypeptide of the invention comprising the following steps: a) culture of transformed cells under conditions allowing the expression of a recombinant polypeptide of a nucleotide sequence according to the invention; b) if need be, recovery of the recombinant polypeptide.

When the procedure for preparation of a polypeptide of the invention employs a transgenic organism according to the invention, the recombinant polypeptide is then extracted from the organism.

The invention also relates to a polypeptide which is capable of being obtained by a procedure of the invention, such as described previously.

The invention also comprises a procedure for preparation of a synthetic polypeptide, characterized in that it uses a sequence of amino acids of polypeptides according to the invention.

The invention likewise relates to a synthetic polypeptide obtained by a procedure according to the invention.

The polypeptides according to the invention can likewise be prepared by techniques that are conventional in the field of the synthesis of peptides. This synthesis can be carried out in homogeneous solution or in solid phase.

For example, recourse can be made to the technique of synthesis in a homogeneous solution described by Houben-Weyl in 1974.

This method of synthesis consists in successively condensing, two by two, the successive amino acids in the order required, or in condensing amino acids and fragments formed previously and already containing several amino acids in the appropriate order, or alternatively several fragments previously prepared in this way, it being understood that it will be necessary to protect beforehand all the reactive functions carried by these amino acids or fragments, with the exception of amine functions of one and carboxyls of the other or vice-versa, which must normally be involved in the formation of peptide bonds, especially after activation of the carboxyl function, according to the methods well known in the synthesis of peptides.

Recourse may also be made to the technique described by Merrifield.

To make a peptide chain according to the Merrifield procedure, recourse is made to a very porous polymeric resin, on which is immobilized the first C-terminal amino acid of the chain. This amino acid is immobilized on a resin through its carboxyl group and its amine function is protected. The amino acids which are going to form the peptide chain are thus immobilized, one after the other, on the amino group, which is deprotected beforehand each time, of the portion of the peptide chain already formed, and which is attached to the resin. When the whole of the desired peptide chain has been formed, the protective groups of the different amino acids forming the peptide chain are eliminated and the peptide is detached from the resin with the aid of an acid.

The invention additionally relates to hybrid polypeptides having at least one polypeptide according to the invention, and a sequence of a polypeptide capable of inducing an immune response in man or animals.

Advantageously, the antigenic determinant is such that it is capable of inducing a humoral and/or cellular response.

It will be possible for such a determinant to comprise a polypeptide according to the invention in glycosylated form used with a view to obtaining immunogenic compositions capable of inducing the synthesis of antibodies directed against multiple epitopes.

These hybrid molecules can be formed, in part, of a polypeptide carrier molecule or of fragments thereof according to the invention, associated with a possibly immunogenic part, in particular, an epitope of the diphtheria toxin, the tetanus toxin, a surface antigen of the hepatitis B virus (Patent FR 79 21811), the VP1 antigen of the poliomyelitis virus or any other viral or bacterial toxin or antigen.

The procedures for synthesis of hybrid molecules encompass the methods used in genetic engineering for constructing hybrid nucleotide sequences coding for the polypeptide sequences sought. It will be possible, for example, to refer advantageously to the technique for obtainment of genes coding for fusion proteins described by Minton in 1984.

The hybrid nucleotide sequences coding for a hybrid polypeptide as well as the hybrid polypeptides according to the invention characterized in that they are recombinant polypeptides obtained by the expression of the hybrid nucleotide sequences are likewise part of the invention.

The invention likewise comprises the vectors characterized in that they contain one of the hybrid nucleotide sequences. The host cells transformed by the vectors, the transgenic organisms comprising one of the transformed cells as well as the procedures for preparation of recombinant polypeptides using the vectors, the transformed cells and/or the transgenic organisms are, of course, likewise part of the invention.

The polypeptides according to the invention, the antibodies according to the invention described below and the nucleotide sequences according to the invention can advantageously be employed in procedures for the detection and/or identification of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius or proteins therefrom, in a sample capable of containing them. These procedures, according to the specificity of the polypeptides, the antibodies and the nucleotide sequences according to the invention which will be used, will in particular be able to detect and/or to identify a Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius or proteins therefrom.

The polypeptides according to the invention can advantageously be employed in a procedure for the detection and/or the identification of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius in a sample capable of containing them, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) contacting of this sample with a polypeptide or one of its fragments according to the invention (under conditions allowing an immunological reaction between the polypeptide and the antibodies possibly present in the biological sample); and b) demonstration of the antigen-antibody complexes possibly formed.

Any conventional procedure can be employed for carrying out such a detection of the antigen-antibody complexes possibly formed.

By way of example, a preferred method brings into play immunoenzymatic processes according to the ELISA technique, by immunofluorescence, or radioimmunological processes (RIA) or their equivalent.

Thus, the invention likewise relates to the polypeptides according to the invention, labeled with the aid of an adequate label such as of the enzymatic, fluorescent or radioactive type.

Such methods comprise, for example, the following steps: deposition of determined quantities of a polypeptide composition according to the invention in the wells of a microtiter plate, introduction into the wells of increasing dilutions of serum, or of a biological sample other than that defined previously, having to be analyzed, incubation of the wells of a microtiter plate, introduction into the wells of the microtiter plate of labeled antibodies directed against pig immunoglobulins, the labeling of these antibodies having been carried out with the aid of an enzyme selected from those which are capable of hydrolyzing a substrate by modifying the absorption of the radiation of the latter, at least at a determined wavelength, for example at 550 nm, detection, by comparison with a control test, of the quantity of hydrolyzed substrate.

The polypeptides according to the invention allow monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies to be prepared, which are characterized in that they specifically recognize the polypeptides according to the invention. It will advantageously be possible to prepare the monoclonal antibodies from hybridomas according to the technique described by Kohler and Milstein in 1975. It will be possible to prepare the polyclonal antibodies, for example, by immunization of an animal, in particular a mouse, with a polypeptide or a DNA, according to the invention, associated with an adjuvant of the immune response, and then purification of the specific antibodies contained in the serum of the immunized animals on an affinity column on which the polypeptide which has served as an antigen has previously been immobilized. The polyclonal antibodies according to the invention can also be prepared by purification, on an affinity column on which a polypeptide according to the invention has previously been immobilized, of the antibodies contained in the serum of an animal immunologically challenged by Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, or a polypeptide or fragment according to the invention.

The invention likewise relates to mono- or polyclonal antibodies or their fragments, or chimeric antibodies, characterized in that they are capable of specifically recognizing a polypeptide according to the invention.

It will likewise be possible for the antibodies of the invention to be labeled in the same manner as described previously for the nucleic probes of the invention, such as a labeling of enzymatic, fluorescent or radioactive type.

The invention is additionally directed at a procedure for the detection and/or identification of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius or proteins therefrom in a sample, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) contacting of the sample with a mono- or polyclonal antibody according to the invention (under conditions allowing an immunological reaction between the antibodies and the polypeptides of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius possibly present in the biological sample); and b) demonstration of the antigen-antibody complex possibly formed.

The present invention likewise relates to a procedure for the detection and/or the identification of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius in a sample, characterized in that it employs a nucleotide sequence according to the invention.

More particularly, the invention relates to a procedure for the detection and/or the identification of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius or proteins therefrom in a sample, characterized in that it contains the following steps: a) if need be, isolation of the DNA from the sample to be analyzed; b) specific amplification of the DNA of the sample with the aid of at least one primer, or a pair of primers, according to the invention; and c) demonstration of the amplification products.

These can be detected, for example, by the technique of molecular hybridization utilizing a nucleic probe according to the invention. This probe will advantageously be labeled with a nonradioactive (cold probe) or radioactive element.

For the purposes of the present invention, “DNA of the biological sample” or “DNA contained in the biological sample” will be understood as meaning either the DNA present in the biological sample considered, or possibly the cDNA obtained after the action of an enzyme of reverse transcriptase type on the RNA present in the biological sample.

A further embodiment of the invention comprises a method, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) contacting of a nucleotide probe according to the invention with a biological sample, the DNA contained in the biological sample having, if need be, previously been made accessible to hybridization under conditions allowing the hybridization of the nucleotide probe with the DNA of the sample; and b) demonstration of the hybrid formed between the nucleotide probe and the DNA of the biological sample.

The present invention also relates to a procedure according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) contacting of a nucleotide probe immobilized on a support according to the invention with a biological sample, the DNA of the sample having, if need be, previously been made accessible to hybridization, under conditions allowing the hybridization of the nucleotide probe with the DNA of the sample; b) contacting of the hybrid formed between the nucleotide probe immobilized on a support and the DNA contained in the biological sample, if need be after elimination of the DNA of the biological sample that has not hybridized with the nucleotide probe, with a nucleotide probe labeled according to the invention; and c) demonstration of the novel hybrid formed in step b).

According to an advantageous embodiment of the procedure for detection and/or identification defined previously, this is characterized in that, prior to step a), the DNA of the biological sample is first amplified with the aid of at least one primer according to the invention.

Further embodiments of the invention comprise methods of at least partially degrading xylotriose into xylobiose and xylose and/or the cleavage of xylobiose into two units of xylose. Degrading these structures have art recognized utility such as those described in Mielenz 2001; Jeffries 1996; Shallom and Shoham 2003; Lynd et al., 2002; Vieille and Zeikus 2001; Bertoldo et al., 2004; and/or Malherbe and Cloete 2002.

Embodiments of methods include placing a recombinant, purified, and/or isolated polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 in fluid contact with xylotriose and/or xylobiose or in an environment where xylotriose and/or xylobiose is to be produced.

Further embodiments of methods include placing a cell producing or encoding a recombinant, purified, and/or isolated polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 in fluid contact with xylotriose and/or xylobiose or in an environment where xylotriose and/or xylobiose is to be produced.

As used herein, “partially degrading” relates to the rearrangement or cleavage of chemical bonds in the target structure. In additional embodiments, “partially degrading” includes the cleavage of xylotriose into xylobiose and xylose, and/or the cleavage of xylobiose into two units of xylose.

In additional embodiments, methods of at least partially degrading xylotriose and/or xylobiose may take place at a temperature at or above about 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, and/or 95 degrees Celsius and/or at a pH at, below, and/or above 7, 6, 5.5, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and/or 0.

Further embodiments of the invention may comprise a kit for at least partially degrading xylotriose and/or xylobiose, the kit comprising a cell producing or encoding a recombinant, purified, and/or isolated polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 and/or a recombinant, purified, and/or isolated polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2.

In embodiments of the invention the any one of the isolated and/or purified polypeptides according to the invention may be enzymatically active at a temperature at or above about 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, and/or 95 degrees Celsius and/or may be enzymatically active at a pH at, below, and/or above 7, 6, 5.5, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and/or 0. In further embodiments of the invention, glycosylation, pegylation, or other post-translational modification may be required for the isolated and/or purified polypeptides according to the invention to be soluble and/or enzymatically active at a pH at or below 7, 6, 5.5, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and/or 0 or at a temperature at or above about 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, and/or 95 degrees Celsius.

The invention is described in additional detail in the following illustrative examples. Although the examples may represent only selected embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the following examples are illustrative and not limiting.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Isolation of Xylanase and Beta-Xylosidase from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius

Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius produces extracellular xylanase(s) when grown on a medium that contains xylan as its sole carbon source. This organism has an optimum temperature range of 55° C.-60° C. and an optimum pH of 3.5 for growth. Thirty liters of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius were grown on a minimal salt medium at a pH of 3.5 and 60° C. containing 0.5 g/L wheat arabinoxylan as the sole carbon source. The culture was grown to stationary phase and harvested by centrifugation to remove cells. The resulting supernatant was filtered through a 0.22 μm filter to remove any remaining cells, and concentrated by ultrafiltration through a 10 kDa molecular weight cutoff membrane. This crude extracellular concentrate was then loaded onto a cation exchange column (POROS® HS, Applied Biosystems Inc. Foster City, Calif.) at a flow rate of 7.75 mL/minute at room temperature. Bound proteins were then eluted off with a sodium chloride salt gradient from 0 to 1 M over five minutes and collected as a single fraction. This fraction was desalted, concentrated and reloaded onto the cation exchange column. A wash was performed to remove unbound material. Bound proteins were eluted with another sodium chloride salt gradient from 0 to 1 M over five minutes at a flow rate of 10 ml/min and fractions were collected every six seconds. The levels of protein (triangles), endoxylanase (squares), and endoglucanase (diamonds) activities in fractions 15 through 39 are shown in FIG. 3. One of the resulting peaks appears to be two overlapping peaks. Overlaying the xylanase (squares) and cellulase (diamonds) activities of each fraction shows that the two activities overlap, which demonstrates the presence of two or more enzymes (FIG. 3). Fractions 15 through 34 were pooled (hereafter referred to as pooled concentrate chromatography fractions, PCCF) and subjected to SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. The SDS-PAGE gel of PCCF contains five major protein bands as and several minor bands as well (FIG. 2). The multiple bands in the SDS-PAGE gel of PCCF in FIG. 2 support the presence of multiple enzymes.

Example 2 Demonstration of Endoxylanase and Beta-Xylosidase Activities from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius

The endoxylanase and beta-xylosidase activities of the PCCF were tested at a temperature of 60° C. and at a pH of 2.0 with 3.95 g/L insoluble oat spelt xylan as the substrate. The results were compared to those from a parallel test of the endoxylanase activity of the endo-β-1,4-xylanase from Thermomyces lanuginosus (available from the Sigma-Aldrich Co., St. Louis, Mo., product number X2753), using insoluble oat spelt xylan at 4.19 g/L as the substrate and operated at a temperature of 50° C. and at a pH of 4.7. The appearance of carbohydrate oligosaccharides and monomers in the aqueous phase was monitored for 72 hours by HPLC. The products arising from enzymatic activity were identified by comparison with HPLC data from enzyme-free controls operated under the same conditions.

As expected, the Thermomyces lanuginosus enzyme exhibited endoxylanase activity, which acts by cleaving the β-1,4-xylan backbone internally, and oligomers of β-1,4-xylan were produced. These oligomers included xylohexaose, xylopentaose, xylotetraose, xylotriose, and xylobiose (FIG. 4). The primary end products were xylobiose and xylotriose, by definition the end products of an endo-β-1,4-xylanase. Therein, it can be seen that the levels of xylose (closed circles) remain at zero while the levels of xylobiose (squares) and xylotriose (triangles) show the greatest increase during the experimental period. Levels of xylohexaose (diamonds), xylopentaose (Xs), and xylotetraose (open circles) are also detectable with the prevalence being inversely correlated to the length of the xylan polymer.

With regard to the activity of the PCCF, both endoxylanase and beta-xylosidase activities are demonstrably present (FIG. 5). Therein, it can be seen that the levels of xylobiose (squares) and xylotriose (triangles) show the substantial increase during the experimental period. This correlates with the xylanse activity seen for the xylanase from Thermomyces lanuginosus as shown in FIG. 4. Levels of xylohexaose (closed circles) remain at zero, while xylopentaose (Xs), and xylotetraose (open circles) are also detectable. However, in addition to the clear presence of endoxylanase activity seen with the Thermomyces lanuginosus enzyme, the PCCF experiments reveal significant xylose production (diamonds). As no known endoxylanase to date is able to produce xylose, this indicates the presence of another enzymatic activity, namely beta-xylosidase activity, which is able to convert xylotriose into xylobiose and xylose, as well as convert xylobiose into two units of xylose.

Example 3 Demonstration of Beta-Xylosidase Activity in Concentrate Chromatography Fractions from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius

Thirty liters of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius were grown on a minimal salt medium at a pH of 3.5 and at a temperature of 60° C. containing 0.5 g/L wheat arabinoxylan as the sole carbon source. The culture was grown to stationary phase and harvested by centrifugation to remove cells. The resulting supernatant was filtered through a 0.22 μm filter to remove any remaining cells, and loaded onto a cation exchange column (Poros HS, Applied Biosystems) at a flow rate of 7.75 mL/minute at room temperature. One liter of the supernatant (pre-column) was reserved for testing of β-xylosidase activity prior to purification. One liter of the flow-through (post-column) was reserved to test β-xylosidase activity that did not bind to the column. Bound proteins were then eluted off with a sodium chloride salt gradient from 0 to 1 M over five minutes and collected as a single fraction. This fraction was desalted, concentrated and reloaded onto the cation exchange column. A wash was performed to remove unbound material. Bound proteins were eluted with another sodium chloride salt gradient from 0 to 1 M over five minutes at a flow rate of 10 ml/minute and fractions were collected every six seconds. The pre- and post-column liquids were concentrated 125-fold and tested for β-xylosidase. The individual fractions were also tested for activity. The β-xylosidase activity was tested in concentrate chromatography fractions ranging from fraction 20 through 50 using an analog substrate, p-methylumbelliferyl-β-D-xylopyranoside, at a pH of 3.5 and at a temperature of 60° C. This compound has a bond similar to the xylose-xylose bond found in xylobiose and xylotriose and when cleaved yields a fluorescent product. Enzyme-free controls were also conducted to account for abiotic hydrolysis of the substrate. β-xylosidase activity was found in both the pre- and post-column fractions as well as distributed throughout the eluted fractions although there does appear to be a broad peak around fraction 25 (FIG. 6). This may indicate that the column did not have enough binding capacity for the activity or that it did not bind very strongly.

Given the demonstrated beta-xylosidase activity of the PCCF and of multiple separate concentrate chromatography fractions, the entire genome of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius was sequenced using techniques standard in the art. Open reading frames were analyzed for encoding a beta-xylosidase. One gene encoding a protein having high homology to other beta-xylosidases was identified, namely RAAC00307 (SEQ ID NO:1).

Example 4 RAAC00307: A Beta-Xylosidase

Provided in SEQ ID NO:1 is a nucleotide sequence isolated from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius and encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2. As can be seen in FIGS. 1A through 1D, SEQ ID NO:2 aligns well with other proteins identified as beta-xylosidases. Of particular importance, it is noted that where amino acids are conserved in other beta-xylosidases, those amino acids are generally conserved in SEQ ID NO:2. Thus, the polypeptide provided in SEQ ID NO:2 is properly classified as a beta-xylosidase.

The polypeptides of SEQ ID NOs:13-17 are representative examples of conservative substitutions in the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 and are encoded by nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOs:8-12, respectively.

The nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOs:1 and 8-12 are placed into expression vectors using techniques standard in the art. The vectors are then provided to cells such as bacteria cells or eukaryotic cells such as Sf9 cells or CHO cells. In conjunction with the normal machinery present in the cells, the vectors comprising SEQ ID NOs:1 and 8-12 produce the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 13-17. The polypeptides of SEQ ID NOs:2 and 13-17 are then isolated and/or purified. The isolated and/or purified polypeptides of SEQ ID NOs:2 and 13-17 are then demonstrated to have activity as beta-xylosidases.

The isolated and/or purified polypeptides of SEQ ID NOs:2 and 13-17 are challenged with xylotriose and/or xylobiose. The isolated and/or purified polypeptides of SEQ ID NOs:2 and 13-17 are demonstrated to have activity in at least partially degrading xylotriose into xylobiose and xylose and/or the cleavage of xylobiose into two units of xylose. Such activity can be unambiguously demonstrated by monitoring the levels of xylotriose, xylobiose, and xylose in the reaction.

Example 5 Production and Purification of RAAC00307: A Beta-Xylosidase

The nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 was cloned from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius. SEQ ID NO:1 encodes the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2. SEQ ID NO:1 was cloned into the pBAD/HIS A expression vector for E. coli and the pPIC6α A expression vector for P. pastoris and provided to E. coli and P. pastoris via electroporation and heat shock into competent cells, respectively. Expression of SEQ ID NO:2 was detected from both transformed E. coli and P. pastoris comprising SEQ ID NO:1 and RAAC00307 was affinity purified using a cobalt resin from these sources for activity testing.

Example 6 Beta-Xylosidase Activity of RAAC00307: A Beta-Xylosidase

RAAC00307 purified from both E. coli and P. pastoris was tested for beta-xylosidase activity using a fluorescent assay and summarized as follows:

A solution of MUXyl (4-methylumbelliferyl β-D-xylopyranoside) (Sigma M7008-1G CAS #6734-33-4) was created by diluting 10 mg (0.01 g) MUXyl in 1 mL dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Individual aliquots of the DMSO solution were then diluted 1:100 with 50 mM sodium acetate buffer of pH 2.0, 3.5 and 5.5.

Samples of purified RAAC00307 generated in Example 5 were diluted 1:10; 1:20, and 1:50 in 50 mM sodium acetate buffer pH 2.0, 3.5 and 5.5. β-xylosidase from A. niger (Sigma X3501-5UN-CAS #9025-530) was diluted 1:100 in 50 mM sodium acetate buffer pH 2.0, 3.5 and 5.5 as positive controls. Samples (RAAC00307 samples and positive controls) were placed in the wells of a 96-well plate in 50 μL aliquots. Blanks of buffer only were placed in some wells. The plate was then preheated to 60° C. to 80° C. for five minutes. Ten μL of MUXyl solution was then added to each cell and the plate further incubated at 60° C. or 80° C. for an additional ten minutes. One hundred μL of 0.5 M sodium carbonate was then added to each well and the β-xylosidase activity was measured in a 96-well plate reader (SPECTRAMAX® Gemini) at Excitation 355 and Emission 460.

Specific activity for RAAC00307 as determined appears in Table 1.

TABLE 1 SPECIFIC ACTIVITY SPECIFIC ACTIVITY ASSAY P. pastoris E. coli pH 3.5, 60° C.  1.63 nmol/minute mg 988 nmol/minute mg pH 5.5, 60° C.  1.46 nmol/minute mg 2205 nmol/minute mg  pH 3.5, 80° C. 0.983 nmol/minute mg 710 nmol/minute mg pH 2.0, 60° C. 0.566 nmol/minute mg undetectable pH 2.0, 80° C. undetectable undetectable

All references, including publications, patents, and patent applications, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

While this invention has been described in certain embodiments, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

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1. An isolated or purified nucleic acid sequence comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 and wherein the polypeptide exhibits beta-xylosidase activity.
 2. The isolated or purified nucleic acid sequence of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide exhibits enzymatic activity at or below about pH 5.5.
 3. The isolated or purified nucleic acid sequence of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide exhibits enzymatic activity at a temperature at or above about 50 degrees Celsius.
 4. The isolated or purified nucleic acid sequence of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid sequence is present in a vector.
 5. A method of at least partially degrading xylotriose or xylobiose, the method comprising: translating the nucleic acid of claim 1 to produce a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 and placing the polypeptide in fluid contact with xylotriose or xylobiose; wherein the polypeptide exhibits beta-xylosidase activity.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein placing the polypeptide in fluid contact with xylotriose or xylobiose is effected at or below about pH 5.5.
 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein placing the polypeptide in fluid contact with xylotriose or xylobiose is effected at a temperature at or above 50 degrees Celsius.
 8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the polypeptide is glycosylated, pegylated, or otherwise post-translationally modified.
 9. The isolated or purified nucleic acid sequence of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid sequence comprises a nucleotide sequence having at least 95% identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. 